By Honorary Reporter Ericka Fabiana Orellana Miranda from Bolivia
Photos = Itamar Garcia Bolivar and Diego Jaldin Zapata 

Kukkiwon, headquarters of the global governing body of taekwondo, on Sept. 17 began this year's Global Taekwondo Master's Training Program to help promising instructors from abroad promote and improve taekwondo in their countries.

I heard of two Bolivian compatriots who traveled to Korea to take the monthlong course. Itamar Garcia Bolivar leads a taekwondo club in Oruro and Diego Jaldin Zapata owns and runs Cochabamba Martial Arts Center. Both men were invited to the program by the Korean Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism.

Participants of this year's Global Taekwondo Master's Training Program hosted at Kukkiwon in Seoul pose for a group photo.

Below are excerpts from the email interview I conducted with the two men this month.

When and how did you start learning taekwondo?
Garcia: I've been practicing taekwondo since I was 16. I started learning it for self-defense.

Jaldin: I've done taekwondo since age 10. Back then, a friend from my neighborhood asked my mother for permission to let me attend a free taekwondo class at a nearby stadium. That's where my long adventure began.

How did you get selected for the program?
Garcia: Bolivia has a Kukkiwon representative and teacher in charge of program selection for the country. The selection process spanned three camps organized by Kukkiwon's office in Bolivia in which the main requirements were at least a fourth-degree blackbelt, intermediate to advanced fluency in English and passing the basic physical exams of the program.

Jaldin: I got my place through points earned at selective camps organized by teachers assigned by the Korean Government and the Kukkiwon office of each country. Bolivia's representative is Grandmaster Park Jun-seok. The selection process considers an applicant's technical, academic and social traits.

What was your first impression after arriving in Korea?
Garcia: What impressed me the most was how Koreans take care of their country, culture and traditional places. They're also very polite, respectful and always attentive to what you need; they treated me extremely well and above expectations.

Jaldin: I find the country large and organized, the technology incredible and no room for mistakes or excuses. They treated and welcomed us very well. They care about each student like family. I am infinitely grateful to have met people from other cultures, languages and religions but all with the same passion for taekwondo.

Diego Jaldin Zapata holds the Bolivian national flag at a tourist spot in Korea.

How did it feel to represent Bolivia in Korea?
Garcia: Being selected to represent Bolivia is the greatest pride a Bolivian can have. Carrying our flag high to any part of the world makes me overjoyed.

Jaldin: Representing my country and seeing my flag in Korea fill me with pride. You know that you've reached the birthplace of taekwondo. It also implies responsibility to show good performance and behavior to keep Bolivia eligible for the program.

kalhong617@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.